Doorlatch mechanism



Oct. 18, 1932. w, c, DEVEREAUX 1,883,610

DOORLATCH MECHANI SM Original Filed July 28, 1930 INVENTOR W222 zazrr flex area a y Patented Oct. 18, 1932 PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM C. DEVEREAUX, F DETROIT, MICHIGAN DOORLATCH MECHANISM Original application filed July 28, 1930, Serial No. 471,368. Divided and. this application filed April 20,

1931. Serial This invention relates generally to latch mechanism, especially to the escutcheons and associated parts of vehicle door latch mechanism, and constitutes a division of my application filed July 28, 1930, bearing Serial No.

One of the essential objects of the invention is to provide a latch mechanism wherein the escutcheon is capable of being quickly attached to an all-metal door construction unit using any exterior securing means such as screws and the like.

Another object is to provide an escutcheon having means engageable with the shank of the outside latch handle for locating the latter in correct position for unlocking.

Other objects, advantages and novel details of construction of this invention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds,

es ecially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary edge elevation of a door with a latch structure embodying my invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view through the outer panel of the door and through the handle escutcheon;

Figure 4 is a sectional view through the outer panel and escutcheon.

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken on the line 55 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawing, 1 is the outer sheet metal panel of a Vehicle door; 2 is a latch case plate secured to said panel and 3 is a latch bolt pivotally mounted on 0 the case plate and movable through an opening 4 in the panel of the door. 5 is a rollback engageable with a lateral flange 6 of the bolt and operable from the outer side of the door, and 7 is a stub shaft rigid with the rollback .and having a squared end portion 8. 9 is a handle having a stem 10 journaled in the stub shaft 7, a sleeve 11 movable longitudinally of the stem and having a square portion 12 engageable with a square portion 8 of the rollback shaft, and a tubular shank 13 enclosing the sleeve 11 and having a depressed portion 14 at its inner end. A key actuated lock 15 is located within and non-rotatively secured to the sleeve 11 and has a rotating cylinder 16 within a socket 17 in the stem. A pin 18 projects laterally from the cylinder 16 and engages a spiral slot 19 in the socket 17. Thus when the cylinder 16 of the lock is turned by a suitable key (not shown) the pin 18 will travel in the spiral slot 19 and will cause the handle shank 13 and sleeve 11 to move in unison longitudinally of the stem. As a result the square portion 12 of the sleeve will be engaged with or disengaged from the square portion 8 of the rollback shaft.

Preferably an annular escutcheon 20 surrounds the shank 13 of the handle and abuts the outer panel 1 of the door. As shown, this escutcheon has a tubular portion 21 provided at its outer edge with an open returnbent portion 22 and extends through a circular opening 23 in the panel 1. A tongue 24 is pressed outwardly from the tubular portion 21 and engages a slot 25 of corresponding width in the panel 1, while other tongues 26 and 27 respectively at diametrically opposite sides of the tubular portion 21 extend through slots 28 and 29 respective ly in the panel 1 and have transverse ridges or corrugations 30 and 31 respectively that extend in rear of the slots 28 and 29 and constitute catches for holding the escutcheon rigid against the panel. A clamp ring 32 fits around the tubular portion 21 and has an embossed portion 33 that is received in the depressed portion 14 in the shank 13 and serves to locate the handle in the correct position for unlocking. WVhen the door is unlocked the door latch can be operated by means of the handle.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent, I desire to have it understood that I do not limit myself to what is herein shown and described and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An escutcheon attachable to a sheet metal panel having a tubular body portion for insertion in an opening in the panel, an open return-bent marginal portion for engagement with one side of the panel, and struck-out portions at substantially diametrically opposite sides thereof engaging the opposite side of said panel.

2. An escutcheon for attachment to a sheet metal panel having a tubular body portion for insertion in an opening in the panel provided at substantially diametrically opposite points thereof with struck-out portions for engagement with one side of the panel, and a resilient ring sleeved upon the tubular portion for engagement with the opposite side of the panel and having a portion extending through the tubular portion aforesaid for engagement with the shank of a latch handle.

3. In a door latch mechanism, a handle having a shank, and an escutcheon on the shank having pre-fashioned means for snap engagement with a rigid part of a door.

4. In a door latch mechanism, a handle having a shank, and an escutcheon on the shank having a tubular body portion provided with pre-fashioned tongues for snap engagement with a rigid part of a door.

5. In a door latch mechanism, a handle having a shank, and an escutcheon on the shank having a tubular body portion provided with pro-fashioned tongues for engagement with a rigid part of a door, certain of said tongues constituting catches for holding the escutcheon rigid with the rigid part aforesaid of the door.

6. In a door latch mechanism, a handle having a shank, and an escutcheon on the shank having a tubular body portion provided with means for holding the escutcheon rigid with a rigid part of a door, and means carried by said escutcheon and engaging the shank for locating the handle in a predetermined position relative to said rigid part of the door.

7. An escutcheon for attachment to a sheet metal panel having a body portion for insertion into an opening in the panel, provided with pre-fashioned means depressible for insertion through and snap engagement with one side of said panel, and a resilient ring sleeved upon the portion aforesaid for engagement with the other side of the panel and having a portion extending through the portion aforesaid for engagement with the shank of a latch handle.

8. An escutcheon having a portion for encircling a handle shank and provided at spaced points with lateral projections that are depressible for insertion through said panel so as to have snap engagement with one side thereof, and a resilient ring carried by the escutcheon and engageable with the other side of said panel.

9. In a door latch mechanism, a handle having a shank insertable through a panel of a door and having a depressed portion, and an escutcheon having a portion on the shank and provided at spaced points thereof with lateral projections for engagement with opposite sides of the panel, certain of said projections being depressible for insertion through and snap engagement with the panel, and a resilient ring surrounding the portion aforesaid of the escutcheon for engagement with one side of the panel and having a part extending through the said portion and engaging the depressed portion of the shank.

10. In combination, an escutcheon having a portion for surrounding the shank of a handle, and provided with a lateral projection, and a resilient ring surrounding the escutcheon in spaced relation to the projection whereby said ring and projection may engage opposite sides of a door panel, the projection being depressible for insertion through and snap engagement with a door panel, and the ring having an offset part extending through the escutcheon for engagement with the shank aforesaid.

11. In a door latch mechanism, a handle having a shank insertable through a panel of a door, and an escutcheon having a tubular portion on the shank provided at spaced points longitudinally thereof with laterally projecting pre-fashioned means for engagement with opposite sides of the door panel, one of said means being depressible for insertion through and snap engagement with said door panel.

12. In a door latch mechanism, a handle having a shank insertable through a panel of a door, and an escutcheon having a portion on the shank provided at spaced points longitudinally thereof. with lateral projections for engagement with opposite sides of the door panel, certain of said projections being depressible for insertion through and snap engagement with the panel.

13. An escutcheon having a portion for encircling a handle shank and provided at spaced points with laterally projecting depressible means insertable through and adapted to have snap engagement with one side of a door panel, and a resilient ring upon the portion aforesaid of the escutcheon engageable with the other side of the door panel and having an offset portion engageable with the handle shank.

14. An escutcheon having a portion for encircling a handle shank and provided at spaced points longitudinally thereof with pre-fashioned lateral projections for engagementwith opposite sides of a door panel, certain of said projections being depressible for insertion through and snap engagement with said panel.

15. In a door latch mechanism, an escutcheon having a tubular portion insertable through a door panel provided at one end with an open return bent flange for engagement with one side of the door panel, and having a prefashioned depressible means adjacent its other end insertable through the door panel for engagement With the opposite side of said door panel.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM C. DEVEREAUX. 

